May 8, 2009
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IOWA CITY – The Iowa baseball team dropped game one of the three-game weekend series to Penn State, 8-5, Friday night at wet Duane Banks Field after a two hour rain delay. The Hawkeyes plated one run in five consecutive innings and an additional run in the ninth. Six of the Nittany Lions’ eight runs were driven in by a home run. Four different players for Penn State hit a round tripper.
Iowa’s offense hit well, amassing 16 hits. Eight of nine starters recorded a hit, six had multi-hit games. Leading the way was Kurtis Muller going 3-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases, an RBI and run scored. Sean Flanagan went 3-for-5. Phil Keppler and Trevor Willis went 2-for-4. Mike McQuillan and Ryan Durant both went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
“Penn State got some big hits including five home runs,” Head Coach Jack Dahm said. “For them, that was the difference in the game. That’s a tough loss today and we just need to grit it and get things done tomorrow.”
The Hawkeyes (15-31, 3-15) scored in the first frame to take an early 1-0 lead. Muller led off with a single through the left side, later stole second and scored on a Durant RBI single up the middle.
Penn State (23-22, 6-13) struck back in the second and third taking advantage of back-to-back home runs in both innings to take the 5-2 lead.
Iowa played catch-up in the second, plating one with two outs to trail 3-2. Keppler picked up a leadoff base hit. One out later, Chett Zeise singled to right to put runners on second and third. With two out, Muller picked up an RBI single to center.
The Black and Gold picked up another run with two outs in the third, for a 5-3 ballgame. With two out, Keppler doubled down the left field line and scored on Flanagan RBI double down the left field line.
Iowa continued to battle in the fourth, scoring one to trial 5-4. Willis began with an infield single and moved to second on a Muller walk. Willis stole third and scored on a groundout, Burke got the RBI. The Hawkeyes tied it up, 5-5, on a McQuillan solo shot to right center in the fifth.
Penn State broke the deadlock in the sixth, scoring two runs to lead 6-5. The inning featured the second Ben Heath bomb over the left field fence. Heath came into the game with only one on the year. The Nittany Lions added an insurance run in the eighth to win 8-5.
The Hawkeyes had the tying run up to the plate in the ninth, but were only able to score one to lose 8-6. With one out, Durant hit a single to right and moved to second on a McQuillan single. With two out Flanagan drove Durant in with an RBI single.
Starter Nick Brown went five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in his first appearance since April 17th. The Hawkeye bullpen featured: Patrick Schatz and Steve Turnbull. The three Iowa pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts tonight, Turnbull struck out four in two innings of work.
Penn State and Iowa will play in game two tomorrow at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Game SummaryPenn State 032 002 010 -- 8 12 0Iowa 111 110 001 -- 6 16 0
WP - Ignas (4-1)LP - Schatz (1-2)SV - Lutz (2)